paul smith's Snaps & Bytes e-home
May 2001: Paul Smith writes... It's been emotional...
I'm typing this whilst still pink, wrinkled and steaming. There really is nothing in this world like a long hot bath with bubbles and Bridget Jones (the motion picture soundtrack anyway) after being on your aching feet all day at a trade show.
I'm talking SCoRE, clearly. And what another fabulous year for this event, which seems to go from strength to strength! I'd really like to thank the very lovely Beth Attwood for all her efforts in organising the Ingram Micro stand, which I had the pleasure of manning on Sunday the 22nd of April. Her hard work (do you think 500 carrier bags stuff themselves? Actually, a note to anyone who wants to be a millionaire: Design a portable bag stuffing device which could be hired to firms for a day or two to fill bags with whatever promotional material you stick in it's hopper*) was repaid by a very successful day for the team. Special thanks must also go to Kodak and Palm, without whom- Sorry, this is turning into an Oscar speech, isn't it? I'll shorten it to 'Great show, thanks all' and move on.
My personal thoughts about the show are somewhat marred by another stands, um, overly bold display. Call me a prude, but if I want to be bombarded with pornographic images for a few hours, I'll have a quiet word with Karl at my local video store. I may not be the sharpest knife in the draw (although I do know what the ending of 2001 - A Space Odyssey is all about) but even I realised that many visiting retailers would want to bring their kids along. Showing what can only be described as 'full-on' overtly adult scenes from an 18 rated game was not really PC enough for a computer show with a small/family business bias. Did I look? Yes I did. I said call me a prude. Free to call me a hypocrite too.
I'm not proud to say I pulled my usual trick on a passing promo-girl. As she strutted by the stand I waved my camera hopefully at her. With a cheeky smile she asked if I'd like a picture. With a cheesy grin in return I said, "Would you mind?" passed her the camera, took two steps back and struck a pose. She saw the funny side to it...once I'd explained the joke to her a couple of times.
A quick advert. Home multi-region DVD players are a rapidly growing market. We even do one that plays MP3 CDs too. Perhaps something to consider this spring as a test line?
And finally, a story about- well, me. Again. I've been chosen from literally many to be the new 'Voice of Ingram Micro'. That's right, in future when you call us I'll be the voice-over telling you what's hot and what's hotter still, deal-wise. So, if you want to hear my smoothest and best 'doctor' voice, that number again....
*No one say 'Temp', ok?
Although Paul Smith works for Ingram Micro, the views expressed in this column are very much his personal ones.
Exactly 500 wellish chosen words on my world, Dale.
Paul